Spondyloarthritis Associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Study of 15 Observations in Guinea

Objective: Rheumatologic disorders of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and reactive arthritis with a digestive origin are part of the spondyloarthritis family. In black Africa, the prevalence of SpA associated with IBD is not clearly established. Thus the objective of our study was to describe the clinical and radiological characteristics of spondyloarthritis associated with IBD. Patients and Method: We carried out a prospective study in the rheumatology department of CHU Ignace Deen between January and December 2019. The diagnosis of SpA was based on clinical and biological arguments in accordance with the criteria of Amor and ASAS. Results: Fifteen observations of spondyloarthritis associated with IBD were collected in patients mean age 52 years with extremes of 32 and 65 years. 9 (53.33%) were female. Ten patients had Crohn’s disease (CD) and 5 had ulcerative colitis (UC). The mean number of pushes was 2.5 ± 1.2. The average diagnostic time was 46 months. Sacroiliitis was present in 73.3% of cases and the mean mSASSS score at diagnosis was 32.11/72. In total, corticosteroids were used in 9 (60%) of patients, NSAIDs in 26.6% while DMARDs salazopyrine and methotrexate in 33.3% and 20% of patients, respectively. Conclusion: The MICI and SpA association is undoubtedly underestimated in our regions. Better collaboration between rheumatologists and gastroenterologists could facilitate diagnosis and improve care.